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Number: 146
Swine influenza IV

Making a diagnosis
There are several key stages to making a diagnosis:

l Identifying the problem

Usually someone has seen something of concern on the farm or records have identified some
change (usually a variance from standard or previous performance). Occasionally, data has been fed
back to the farm of an abnormality, such as lung lesions in the last batch of pigs sent to slaughter.
Ideally we should be able to reconfirm any information at this stage.

l Detection of clinical signs

The animals in question should be inspected and any clinical signs noted. Remember to check body
temperatures. A clinical sign is any deviation from the norm. The person making the observations is
doing just that – he should never discount an observation. Yes, it might be a hot day and that might
be making the pigs pant, but pneumonia breaks are just as likely to start on a hot day.

l Defining the problem

This needs to be done as thoroughly and accurately as possible.

l Define possible diagnoses

The veterinarian will then draw on all of his experience to draw up a list of all the conditions and
diseases he considers to be possible.

l Differential diagnosis
Andres Pintaluba
He will then work through this list and on a basis of reasoning, further examinations and laboratory
tests rule out those conditions on the list which he feels it is reasonable to do so. Ideally, he should
Ayurvet end up with one condition or disease from the list and that is his diagnosis. If not, it is a case of back
to stage three above and repeating the exercise.
Evans Vanodine

Henke-Sass Wolf l Confirmation of diagnosis

This is best done by the isolation of the causative micro-organism or feed analysis. Diagnosis can
Impextraco also be confirmed by response to treatment.

Herbonis

Kanters

LUBING Micron Biosystems Roxell Wisium

Mervue Laboratories Norel Technical Systems Zoetis

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